Housing unit

ABSTRACT

A housing unit with a pontoon having a plurality of shipping containers arranged thereon. The shipping containers have been adapted to be habitable by providing at least one door and at least one window in the shipping containers and by insulating the shipping containers. The pontoon has a flat top, three or more of shipping containers placed on the flat top in a first polygon arrangement with an atrium formed inside the first polygon arrangement. Three or more shipping containers are placed on top the first polygon arrangement to form a second polygon arrangement. The second polygon arrangement is preferably being displaced relative to the first polygon arrangement to obtain a star shaped arrangement.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR A JOINTINVENTOR (37 C.F.R. § 1.77(b)(6)

Danish Patent Application No. PA210400722 was filed on 12 Dec. 2014 andgranted on 29 Feb. 2016. The inventor in Danish Patent Application No.PA210400722 is Kim Loudrup, the inventor of the instant application andthe Applicant is UDVIKLING DANMARK A/S.

European Patent Application No. 15199783.0 was filed on 14 Dec. 2015 andpublished on 15 Jun. 2016. The inventor in European Patent ApplicationNo. 15199783.0 is Kim Loudrup, the inventor of the instant applicationand the Applicant is UDVIKLING DANMARK A/S.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a housing unit that provides forcomfortable, inexpensive and environmental friendly accommodation thatcan be provided at relatively short notice and for relatively low costs.In particular, the present disclosure relates to the use of shippingcontainers for creating living space.

BACKGROUND

WO 2014/195559 discloses a pontoon platform constructed from at leastone container or plurality of interconnected containers, such asshipping or standard freight containers. At least some of the containersare adapted to float on water, either they are waterproof containers orthey comprise a float arrangement. The floating containers form pontoonsand a platform is provided to interconnect several pontoons. Residentialcontainers are placed on the platform in a U-shaped arrangement.

There is a need for comfortable, inexpensive and environmental friendlyhousing space that can be provided at short notice. Various housingconcepts have tried to address this need in the past. Prefabricatedhousing is one of them. Trailers are also used to create housing spaceat short notice. Shipping containers have been converted to housingspace. However none of these concepts has been able to fulfill all ofthe above indicated requirements of comfort, cost and environmentalfriendliness. Prefabricated housing is typically too expensive. Trailerhomes do not provide the required level of comfort and environmentalfriendliness due to inadequate insulation, ventilation and robustness.Shipping containers have been converted to be habitable in the past, butproviding a site for building a housing arrangement from shippingcontainers at short notice is often problematic. Further, known housingarrangement constructed from shipping containers have typically beenmodest in their aesthetic aspirations and their configuration has manybeen simple cuboid constructions with little architectural inspiration.

SUMMARY

On this background, it is an object to provide housing concept that atleast partially fulfills the above object.

This object is achieved in accordance with a first aspect by providing ahousing unit comprising a pontoon with a plurality of shippingcontainers arranged thereon, the shipping containers having been adaptedto be habitable by providing at least one door and at least one windowin the shipping containers and by insulating the shipping containers.

By arranging a plurality of shipping containers that have been adoptedto be habitable on a pontoon that can be floated near shore, it becomespossible to quickly provide inexpensive, environmental friendly andcomfortable living space. A placing the adapted shipping containers on apontoon the housing unit can quickly be relocated and can be flexiblylocated in relation to acute need. Due to the great availability ofshipping containers is possible to produce the living space at shortnotice for relatively low cost. The housing unit can be uses astemporary or permanent housing, or as hotel, office or school.

In a first possible implementation of the first aspect the pontoon has aflat top, three or more of the shipping containers placed on the flattop in a first polygon arrangement with an atrium formed inside thefirst polygon arrangement.

By arranging the shipping containers in a polygon arrangement an atriumis formed within the polygon arrangement thereby creating additionalrecreational space for the inhabitants of the housing unit. In a secondpossible implementation of the first aspect the pontoon has a polygonoutline with number of sides equal to the number of sides of the firstpolygon arrangement.

In a third possible implementation of the first aspect the shippingcontainers in the first polygon arrangement partially protrude from thepontoon, the outline of the first polygon arrangement preferably beinglarger than the outline of the pontoon.

In a fourth possible implementation of the first aspect the shippingcontainers of the first polygon arrangement are arranged with a spacebetween them, preferably a space large enough to form a passage personto pass.

In a fifth possible implementation of the first aspect three or moreshipping containers are placed on top the first polygon arrangement toform a second polygon arrangement, the second polygon arrangementpreferably being displaced relative to the first polygon arrangement toobtain a star shaped arrangement.

In a sixth possible implementation of the first aspect the secondpolygon arrangement has the same number of sides as the first polygonarrangement, and wherein the second polygon arrangement includes moreshipping containers than the first polygon arrangement, with at leastsome of the shipping containers in the second polygon arrangement beingplaced side by side.

In a seventh possible implementation of the first aspect the atrium isalso extends inside the second polygon arrangement.

In an eight possible implementation of the first aspect the side of atleast one of the shipping containers of the second polygon arrangementthat faces the atrium is provided with an access balcony.

In a ninth possible implementation of the first aspect a staircase isarranged between the flat top and the access balcony.

In a tenth possible implementation of the first aspect the accessbalcony extends along a plurality of shipping containers of the secondpolygon arrangement, the access balcony preferably including regularbalcony areas.

In a eleventh possible implementation of the first aspect a door in ashipping container of the second polygon arrangement opens directly tothe access balcony or opens to a corridor inside the container thatconnects to the access balcony.

In a twelfth possible implementation of the first aspect a door in ashipping container of the first polygon arrangement opens directly tothe atrium or opens to a corridor inside the container that connects tothe atrium.

In a thirteenth possible implementation of the first aspect the atriumis covered, preferably by a light transparent cover or roof, even morepreferably the cover or roof is at least partially openable.

In a fourteenth possible implementation of the first aspect the pontoonis a floating pontoon that is provided with an upper support area thatis intended to stay be above the waterline when the housing unit isfloating.

In a fifteenth possible implementation of the first aspect heatingequipment and/or cooling equipment and/or sanitary equipment that isconnected to the shipping containers is located inside the pontoon.

In a sixteenth possible implementation of the first aspect thelongitudinal ends of the containers are provided with a window, thesurface of the longitudinal end of the shipping containers preferablybeing mostly used as window area.

In a sixteenth possible implementation of the first aspect the innerwalls of the shipping container, preferably including the roof and thefloor, are insulated using reflective insulation sheets or panels thatcomprise at least two reflective layers, one reflective on each outersurface with another type of insulating material sandwiched between thereflective layers, the other insulating material preferably being an airbubble film layer and/or a plastic foam layer.

In a seventeenth possible implementation of the first aspect theinterior of said pontoon is accessible and comprises at least one room,said pontoon preferably comprising a staircase accessible through anopening in the floor of said atrium.

In an eighteenth possible implementation of the first aspect the housingunit comprises a heat pump exchanging heat with the water surroundingthe pontoon, directly or indirectly, and said heat pump preferably beinglocated inside said pontoon.

It is another object above is also achieved according to a second aspectby providing a housing unit that includes a plurality of interconnectedfloating pontoons with a plurality of shipping containers arranged oneach of the pontoons, the shipping containers being adapted to behabitable by providing at least one door and at least one window in theshipping containers and by insulating the walls of the shippingcontainers.

In a first possible implementation of the second aspect the pontoon hasa polygon outline, and wherein the pontoons are interconnected bygangways, at least one of the pontoons being provided with a gangway forconnection to shore, at least several of the pontoons are provided withpaths interconnecting the gangways so as to form pathway or pathwaysystem that connects each of the pontoons to shore.

In a second possible implementation of the second aspect at least aportion of the pathway is part of atria formed on each pontoon insidethe first polygon arrangement.

Further objects, features, advantages and properties of the housing unitand arrangement with a plurality of housing units according to thepresent disclosure will become apparent from the detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the following detailed portion of the present description, thehousing unit and the arrangement with a plurality of housing units willbe explained in more detail with reference to the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1. is an elevated view of a housing unit,

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the housing unit of FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a top view of an arrangement including a plurality ofinterconnected housing units of FIG. 1 near a shore,

FIG. 4 is a top sectional view of the housing unit of FIG. 1,

FIG. 5 is another top sectional view of the housing unit of FIG. 1,

FIG. 6 is another top sectional view of the housing unit of FIG. 1,

FIG. 7 is another top view of an arrangement including a plurality ofinterconnected housing units of FIG. 1 near a shore,

FIG. 8 is another top sectional view of the housing unit of FIG. 1,

FIG. 9 is a side view of an arrangement including several interconnectedhousing units of FIG. 1, and

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of insulation material that is used inthe housing unit of FIG. 1, and

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view through an adapted shipping container.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Below follows a description a housing unit 1 and open arrangementincluding a plurality of housing units.

In the below description, a pontoon, is understood as a flotation devicewith buoyancy sufficient to float itself as well as a heavy load andshipping container is understood as a standardized steel shippingcontainer, i.e. am intermodal freight container.

Shipping containers have a strength suitable to withstand shipment,storage, and handling. In the context of international shipping trade,“container” or “shipping container” is virtually synonymous with“(standard) intermodal freight container” (a container designed to bemoved from one mode of transport to another without unloading andreloading).

An intermodal container (also container, freight container, ISOcontainer, shipping container, hi-cube container, box, conex box and seacan) is a standardized reusable steel box. Shipping containers aregenerally used to store and move materials and products in the globalcontainerized intermodal freight transport system efficiently andsecurely. “Intermodal” indicates that the container can be moved fromone mode of transport to another (from ship, to rail, to truck) withoutunloading and reloading the contents of the container. Lengths ofcontainers, which each have a unique ISO 6346 reporting mark, vary from8 to 56 feet (2.438 to 17.069 m) and heights from 8 feet (2.438 m) to 9feet 6 inches (2.896 m). There are about 17 million intermodalcontainers in the world of varying types to suit different cargoes.

A typical steel shipping container has doors fitted at one end, and ismade of corrugated weathering steel. Standard steel shipping containerscan be 8-foot (2.44 m) wide by 8-foot (2.44 m) high, and either anominal 20-foot (6.1 m) or 40-foot (12.19 m) long. They can be stackedup to seven units high. At each of the eight corners are castings withopenings for twistlock fasteners.

A typical steel shipping container is made of corrugated sheet steelwalls that are welded to the main structural top and bottom side railsand end frames that are of fabricated or shaped steel sections. The endframes have fittings (steel castings) at all eight corners that areusually welded to the four corner posts, top and bottom side and frontrails, and rear doorsill and header. The roof can be flat or corrugatedsheet steel welded to the top side and end rails and door header; it mayhave interior roof bows for support. The doors are usually steel orplymetal (steel-faced wood) panels fitted with locking and antirackhardware and weatherproof seals. The floor of most intermodal shippingcontainers is marine grade plywood, but floor may be soft or hardlaminated wood, planking, or plywood either screwed or bolted to thecross members.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show a housing unit 1 in a perspective and a perspectiveexploded view respectively. The housing unit 1 does not need to bemotorized, because it is usually moored, kept stationary at a fixedpoint and often tethered to land to provide utilities. The housing unit1 includes a pontoon 2 with a plurality of shipping containers 3arranged on top of the upper surface of the pontoon 2. The shippingcontainers 3 have been adapted to be suitable for housing purposes, i.e.have been converted to be habitable for providing living space. By wayof example, the shipping containers 3 have been stacked on the pontoon 2in two layers, but it should be understood that the shipping containers3 may just as well have been stacked in a single layer or the stacked inmore than two layers.

FIG. 3 illustrates a plurality of interconnected housing units 1 in anexample configuration flowing of the shore 10. The housing units 1 areinterconnected by gangways 6. The connection of the plurality ofinterconnected housing units to shore is also established by gangways 6.

FIG. 4 illustrates in a top view the layout of a first layer of shippingcontainers 3 placed in a first polygon arrangement on the top surface ofthe pontoon 2 with an atrium area 17 in the center of the first polygonarrangement. The pontoon arrangement may have equal length sides. Inthis example the polygon is a triangle. It is noted that the shippingcontainers 3 are spaced and the space between them can be filled withglazing or walls. Thus, the shipping containers 3 are arranged in animaginary polygon and do not form an exact polygon. The space betweenthe shipping containers 3 can also be used as a passage. The layout of asecond layer of shipping containers 3 placed on the first layer ofshipping containers is illustrated by the interrupted lines.

FIG. 5 illustrates in a top view the shape and construction of thepontoon 2. The layout of the first layer of shipping containers 3 placedon the pontoon 2 is illustrated by the interrupted lines.

FIG. 6 illustrates in a top view the layout of a second layer ofshipping containers 3 placed in a second polygon arrangement on thefirst layer of shipping containers 3 with the atrium 17 also beensurrounded by the containers 3 of the second polygon arrangement.

The pontoon 2 is a raft-like platform with a substantially flat uppersurface for supporting the shipping containers 3 arranged thereon. Thepontoon 2 can be anchored, typically close to shore 10, and the pontoon2 provides enough buoyancy for the complete housing unit 1 when thehousing unit 1 is floated. The pontoon 2 can be made from variousmaterials, one suitable material being concrete, such as steelreinforced concrete. In an embodiment, the interior of the pontoon 2 isbe divided by partition walls 7 into several rooms 8 and the pontoon 2is optionally provided with a staircase 9 that connects the uppersurface of the pontoon 2 to the bottom floor of the pontoon 2. A floor25 covers the top of the pontoon 2 in order to provide a flat topsurface that serves e.g. to support the shipping containers 3 placedthereon and it also serves to provide a flooring for the atrium 17. Thebottom floor can be provided with tubing therein (preferably the tubingis embedded in the concrete slab that forms the bottom floor), forexample in a meandering pattern, in order to provide a heat exchangerfunction with water surrounding the pontoon 2. The tubing in the bottomfloor is connected with a heat pump that is part of the heatingequipment 19 that is used to provide warm water for underfloor heatingof the shipping containers and for providing warm water for sanitarypurposes. The tubing in the bottom floor can also be connected tocooling equipment 23. The heat pump exploits the heat in the surroundingwater. The heat pump can be connected to the tubing in the bottom flooror the heat pump can used the water surrounding the pontoon directly.The heat pump can be driven by solar energy from solar panels on theroof to the upper shipping containers 3. The housing unit can beprovided with a battery or battery bank, located e.g. inside the pontoon

The housing units 15 like apartments or studios are obtained by adaptingan intermodal shipping container 3. In the shown embodiments 40 feetlong, 8 feet wide and 8 feet high intermodal containers have been usedas the starting point for constructing the housing units 15.Alternatively, 20 feet long intermodal containers 3 could also have beenused. The shipping containers 3 have been adapted by providing them withdoors 4 and windows 5. In particular, the end walls at the longitudinalends of the shipping containers 3 are provided with windows 5, i.e. theoriginal doors at one longitudinal end of a shipping container arereplaced by walls or windows. The complete and wall can be provided withglazing to provide a large window area by using a window frame that fitsthe end of the containers such a window 5 is easy to secure to theshipping containers 3. The sidewalls of the shipping containers 3 canalso be provided with windows 5, and roof windows (is not shown) arealso an option. As part of the adaptation process the shippingcontainers are locally reinforced to compensate for any weakening causedby the provision of doors and windows. The local reinforcement can be inthe form of steel beams and the like. The conversion to living space issuch that the shipping containers are still compatible with standardshipping containers so that the converted shipping containers can beshipped in the same way as standard shipping containers by train, truck(lorry) or ship.

The roof 21 of one or more shipping containers 3 can be configured beconfigured as a roof terrace 27 provided with a railing and a staircase13 along the side of the container to provide access. A single shippingcontainer 3 can be used to provide a single apartment our studio 15, ora single shipping container 3 can be divided into two studios (as shownin FIG. 4) two parts of two neighboring shipping containers 3 we used toform a single apartment (as shown in FIG. 6). Other variations in thedivision of studios and apartments and their distribution over variousnumbers of shipping containers 3 are also encompassed. Eachstudio/apartment 15 is provided with a kitchen unit and with a bathroomincluding shower and toilet. The door 4 of an apartment/studio 15preferably opens to the atrium 17, either directly or via a corridor 12that is arranged inside one or more shipping containers 3. The corridor12 can be arranged to go through one or more shipping containers 3 toprovide passage and access.

Another measure for adapting the shipping containers 3 to housingpurposes is the provision of insulation. Insulation is provided byapplying reflective insulation sheets or panels 33 to the inner sides ofthe shipping containers 3. A cross-sectional view of such insulationsheets or panels 33 is shown in FIG. 10. The reflective insulationsheets or panels 33 have at least two reflective layers 31, onereflective layer 31 on each outer surface with another type ofinsulating material 34 sandwiched between the reflective layers 31. Theother insulating material preferably being an air bubble film layer 32and/or a plastic foam layer. The insulation layer may comprise a corelayer of plastic foam with an air bubble layer on both sides of the corelayer and a plurality of reflective layers, with at least a reflectivelayer on the outer sides. This type of insulating material iscommercially available from Aluthermo Nev., St. Vith, Belgium, under theproduct name Aluthermo® Quattro. This type of insulation materialprovides for an excellent heat insulation that requires minimumthickness thereby providing maximum usable space inside the shippingcontainers 3.

The shipping containers 3 are heated and preferably provided with floorheating, even more preferably water based underfloor floor heating.

FIG. 11 illustrates the insulation and inner walls, ceilings andflooring of a shipping container 3 that has been adapted to behabitable. The original container structure 103 has on its inner sidesbeing lined with insulation panels or mats 33, including the floor toceiling and sidewalls. The ceilings for the provided with a condensationscreen 41 and with a hat profile 42 and is finished with plasterboards44. The sidewalls are provided with transverse battens 43, acousticstuff plasterboard 48, insulation panels 33, another layer of transversebattens 42, OSB (Oriented Strand Board) 46 and finished withplasterboard 44. With respect to the flooring, transverse battens 43 areplaced on the original container structure 103. Insulation panels ormats 33 are placed on top of the transverse battens 43 and another layerof transverse battens 43 is placed on the insulation panels or mats 33.Chipboard panels 49 are placed on the last layer of transverse battens43 and the chipboard panels 49 are provided with tubing (PEX) 50 in ameandering pattern for the underfloor heating. Floorboards placed on topof the chipboard panel. In the shown housing unit 1, three shippingcontainers 3 are placed on the flat top in a first polygon arrangementwith an atrium 17 formed inside the first polygon arrangement, atriangle. A higher number of shipping containers 3 to can be used in thefirst polygon arrangement with a correspondingly higher number of sides,such as the square, a pentagon, hexagon or higher number polygon. Thepontoon 2 has a polygon outline with number of sides equal to the numberof sides of the first polygon arrangement. The shipping containers 3 inthe first polygon arrangement partially protrude from the pontoon 2 andthe outline of the first polygon arrangement is preferably larger thanthe outline of the pontoon 2. The shipping containers 3 of the firstpolygon arrangement are arranged with a space between them, preferably aspace large enough to form a passage for person to pass in order toallow passages or doors to be formed that allow access to the atrium 17.Alternatively, the space can be used to form a window for providing viewfrom the atrium 17 to the surrounding area.

Six shipping containers are placed on top the first polygon arrangementto form a second polygon arrangement. The second polygon arrangement isdisplaced relative to the first polygon arrangement (rotated relative tothe first polygon arrangement by half of the angle between the sides ofthe polygon) to obtain a star shaped arrangement. The second polygonarrangement has the same number of sides as the first polygonarrangement. However, the second polygon arrangement preferably includesmore shipping containers 3 than the first polygon arrangement, with evenmore preferably at least some of the shipping containers in the secondpolygon arrangement being placed side by side. The shipping containers 3that are placed side-by-side share a common roof 21.

The atrium 17 is also extends inside the second polygon arrangement. Theouter side of at least one of the shipping containers 3 of the secondpolygon arrangement that faces the atrium 17 is provided with an accessbalcony 16. A staircase 11 is arranged between the flat top (flooring)25 and the access balcony 16. The access balcony 16 can extend along aplurality of shipping containers 3 of the second polygon arrangement.The access balcony 16 preferably including regular balcony areas 14,that interconnect the assess balconies 16 that extend along theindividual shipping containers 3. Advantageously, these balcony areas 14are located adjacent spacing between the corners of shipping containers3 so as to provide a view from within the atrium 17 when located on abalcony area 14. Also in the second polygon arrangement the spacebetween the shipping containers is filled with a glazed wall or the liketo provide a view to protect from the environment.

A door 5 in a shipping container 3 of the second polygon arrangementopens directly to the access balcony 16 or opens to a corridor 12 insidethe container 3 that connects to the access balcony 16.

Preferably, the atrium 17 is covered by a cover 22. The cover 22 ispreferably a (light) transparent cover or roof that even more preferablyis at least partially openable in order to regulate the climate insidethe atrium i.e. for ventilation purposes. Hereto, motorized openablepanels (not shown) can be used.

Access to the housing unit 1 is provided by a gangway 6. The gangway 6can be connected to the housing unit 1 at the level of the first polygonarrangement and/or at the level of the second polygon arrangement. Thegangway 6 can connect at the opening between two shipping containers 3or that the corridor 12 that goes through one or more shippingcontainers 3.

As shown for example in FIG. 5, heating equipment 19 and/or coolingequipment 23 and/or sanitary equipment 18 that is connected to thehousing units inside the shipping containers 3 is located in a machineroom 8 in the pontoon 2. The other rooms 8 in the pontoon 2 can be usedfor storage. Connections form the equipment 18,19,23 in the pontoon tothe shipping containers 3 on the pontoon 2 are also provided.

FIGS. 3 and 7 illustrate housing arrangement 30 that includes aplurality of interconnected floating pontoons 2 with a plurality ofshipping containers (3) arranged on each of the pontoons 2. The shippingcontainers 3 have been adapted to be habitable, i.e. suitable as livingspace by providing at least one door 5 and at least one window 4 in theshipping containers 3 and by insulating the walls of the shippingcontainers 3, similar to the housing unit described above.

All pontoons 2 have an identical polygon outline and size and thepontoons 2 are interconnected by gangways 6. At least one of thepontoons 2 is provided with a gangway 6 for connection to shore 10. Atleast several of the pontoons 2 are provided with paths interconnectingthe gangways 6 so as to form a pathway 20 or pathway system thatconnects each of the pontoons 2 to shore 10. At least a portion of thepathway 20 can be part of atria 17 formed on each pontoon 2 inside thefirst polygon arrangement.

FIG. 8 illustrates a slightly different version of the housing unit 1that includes only a single layer of shipping containers 3 on thepontoon 2. Otherwise, this housing unit 1 is essentially identical tothe housing unit described above.

FIG. 9 illustrates a housing arrangement 30 that includes a threehousing units 1 in an exemplary arrangement close to shore 10.

Each housing unit 1 can be provided with its own controller thatcontrols e.g. the heating and/or cooling equipment. Alternatively acentral controller that is placed in one of the housing units 1 or thatis remotely placed controls the equipment in an arrangement thatcomprises a plurality of housing units 1.

Although the teaching of this application has been described in detailfor purpose of illustration, it is understood that such detail is solelyfor that purpose, and variations can be made therein by those skilled inthe art without departing from the scope of the teaching of thisapplication. The term “comprising” as used in the claims does notexclude other elements or steps. The term “a” or “an” as used in theclaims does not exclude a plurality. The mere fact that certain measuresare recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicatethat a combination of these measured cannot be used to advantage. Thereference signs used in the claims shall not be construed as limitingthe scope.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A housing unit (1) comprising a pontoon (2)formed by a single hollow body with a flat top, with a plurality ofshipping containers (3) arranged on said flat top, said shippingcontainers (3) having been adapted to be habitable by providing at leastone door (4) and at least one window (5) in said shipping containers (3)and by insulating said shipping containers (3), said flat top havingthree or more of said shipping containers (3) placed on said flat top ina first polygon arrangement with an atrium (17) formed inside said firstpolygon arrangement with a portion of said flat top forming the floor ofsaid atrium.
 2. A housing unit (1) according to claim 1, wherein saidpontoon (2) has a polygon outline with number of sides equal or doublethe number of sides of said first polygon arrangement.
 3. A housing unit(1) according to claim 1, wherein said shipping containers (3) in saidfirst polygon arrangement partially protrude from said pontoon (2), theoutline of said first polygon arrangement being larger than the outlineof said pontoon (2).
 4. A housing unit (1) according to claim 1, whereinthe shipping containers (3) of said first polygon arrangement arearranged with a space between them large enough to form a passage forperson to pass, said space being covered by glazing.
 5. A housing unit(1) according to claim 1, wherein three or more shipping containers (3)are placed on top said first polygon arrangement to form a secondpolygon arrangement, said second polygon arrangement being displacedrelative to the first polygon arrangement to obtain a star shapedarrangement.
 6. A housing unit (1) according to claim 5, wherein the anouter side of at least one of the shipping containers (3) of said secondpolygon arrangement that faces said atrium (17) is provided with anaccess balcony (16), a staircase (11) preferably arranged between saidflat top and said access balcony (16) and said access balcony (16)extending along a plurality of shipping containers (3) of said secondpolygon arrangement, said access balcony including balcony areas (14).7. A housing unit (1) according to claim 1, wherein inner sides of saidshipping container (3), including a roof, walls and a floor, areinsulated using reflective insulation sheets or panels that comprise atleast two reflective layers with another type of insulating materialsandwiched between said reflective layers, said other type of insulatingmaterial being an air bubble film layer and/or a plastic foam layer. 8.A housing unit (1) according to claim 1, wherein an interior of saidpontoon is accessible and comprises at least one room.
 9. A housing unit(1) according to claim 8, wherein said pontoon (2) comprises a staircaseaccessible through an opening in the floor of said atrium.
 10. A housingunit (1) according to claim 1, further comprising a heat pump heatexchanging with water surrounding the pontoon (2), directly orindirectly.
 11. A housing unit (1) according to claim 10, wherein saidheat pump is located inside said pontoon (2).
 12. A housing arrangement(30) that includes a plurality of interconnected housing units (1)according to claim
 1. 13. A housing arrangement (30) according to claim12, wherein said pontoons (2) have a polygon outline, and wherein saidpontoons (2) are interconnected by gangways (6), at least one of saidpontoons (2) being provided with a gangway (6) for connection to shore(10), at least several of said pontoons (2) are provided with pathsinterconnecting said gangways (6) so as to form pathway (20) or pathwaysystem that connects each of said pontoons (2) to shore (10).
 14. Ahousing unit (1) according to claim 1 wherein said pontoon arrangementhas equal length sides.